Air conditioning apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 933. P.' w. sTRoMBERG AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1952 March 7, I933.

P. W. STROMBERG AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D @i 4N' Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE PEER 'W'. STROMBERG, OF SOMERV'ILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WILLSIE M. MATTISON, 0F OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Application led J'uly 26,

This invention relates to an apparatus for conditioning air and has for its object to provide an apparatus of semi-portable type which may be utilized as an effective means for purifying, filtering, humidifying and c1rculating air within the rooms of a building during the winter season when the heating system is in operation and the air is generally dry; and for cooling, purifying, and filtering, dehumidifying and circulating air dury ing the summer' season when the heating system is out of operation and the air is generally moist.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for automatically controlling the actuation of the blower and the supply of water provided for the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to so arrange the water tempering apparatus, which is provided for cooling the spray, that the water may be utilized for drinking purposes.

The invention consists in an apparatus for conditioning air as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 represents a central vertical section partly in elevation of an air conditioning apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the spray filtering screen for the humiditying compartment and the cover for the temperature controlling compartment removed, thereby exposing the parts located therebeneath. v

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 5 represents a casing preferably rectangular in form and divided by a vertical partition 6 located at an intermediate point therein into a temperature controlling compartment 7 and a humidifying compartment 8. A cover 9 is provided for the compartment 7. The humidifying compartment 8 is open at the bottom at 10 and also open at the top at 11, thereby making it possible for a current of air to pass upwardly there- 1932. serial No. 624,673.

through. The humidifying compartment 8 is divided, by means of a sloping bottom member 12 and series of baiile plates 13, into a spray chamber 14 and a blower chamber 15. A screen 16, preferably consisting of a plurality of superimposed layers of fine wire lfabric, is positioned at the bottom of the humidifying compartment 8, and a similar screen 17 also consisting of a plurality of layers of fine Wire fabric is positioned adjacent to the top of the chamber 8.

Mounted in the blower chamber 15, upon a bracket 18, is a motor 19 of conventional form adapted to drive a fan 2O in a wellknown manner. The motor 19 and fan 20 are positioned to force air which enters the cured at their opposite extremities to side members 21 in such a manner that they may be positioned as a unit between guide members 22 which are secured to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the casing 5. When the baffle plates 13 are in position within the casing 5, the lowermost plate will rest upon the bottom member 12. When it is desired to remove said plates from said casing, they may all be lifted in unison at which time the side members 21 will slide upwardly between the guide members 22.

Positioned within the temperature lcontrolling compartment 7 is a receptacle -23 which is separated by a Space 24 from the partition 6 and' adiacent side and end walls of the casing 5. This space 24 constitutes an insulating space, and if so desired, the air pressure therein may be reduced to approximately a vacuum, or said space may be filledy with a suitable insulating material. A water supply pipe 25 enters the receptacle 23 at a point adjacent to the bottom thereof and connects with -a coil 26 which extends upwardly through the receptacle to a point adjacent to the top thereof, the convolutions of said coil being located adjacent to the walls of the receptacle. 'll`hev upper convolution of the coil 26 is connected to a magnetic valve 27 of wellknown form, through which the flow of water is automatically controlled by means of a humidistat 28 also of well-known form, said humidistat being electrically connected to said magnetic valve by means of wires 29 and 30.

Water is discharged from the magnetic valve 27 through a pipe 31 which communicates with a spray nozzle 32 positioned adjacent to the bottom of the spray chamber 14. Vater entering the coil 26 through the supply pipe 25 maybe cooled in any wellknown manner as by filling the receptacle 23 with ice 47, or any electrical or mechanical refrigerating unit well known to those skilled in the lart may be mounted within this rcceptacleif it is so desired.

The humi-distat 28 is connected by means of wires 33 and 34 with themotor 19, said wires being connected to the wires 29 and 30 in such a manner that whenever the humidistat 28 `is actuated that the magnetic valve and motor 19 will be actuated in unison. The humidistat 28 is electrically connected with a source of electric supply by 4means of suitable wires 35 and 36.

Positioned within the spray chamber 14 a suitable distance above the nozzle 32 is a baille member 37 embodying therein a plurality of sets of plates 38, 39 and 40, the plates of each set being positioned at different angles to each other in a manner to provide passageways which will change the direction of the saturated air as it passes therethrough, thereby causing said air to be deflected from one to another of said sets of plates. The plates 38, 39 and 40 are all. Secured at their opposite ends to end members 41 in such a manner that they may be removed in unison from the chamber 14. When in position within said chamber, the end members 41 rest upon supports 42 which are secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls of the casing.

Water that collects at the bottom of the slpay chamber 14 is discharged therefrom t ough a drain pipe 43 and the receptacle 23 is emptied as may be desired through a drain pipe 44 which communicates with the pipe 43. A valve 45 is provided to control the flow of water through the pipe 44. .A

faucet 46 is connected to the upper convolution of the coil 26 and cooled drinking Water may be obtained by operating the faucet 46 in a well-known manner.

The general operation of the apparatus hereinbefore specifically described is as follows z-The humidistat 28 is set to close the electric circuit from the source of electric supply to the valve 27 and motor 19 when Leeaeee the moisture content of the air reaches a certain predetermined amount. At this time the valve 27 will function to permit water forced upwardly through the coil 26 by the city pressure to pass therethrough and flow to the spray nozzle 32 where a tine spray will be created in the space above the nozzle. At the same time the motor 19 will be actuated to cause the fan 20 to be rotated in a manner to cause air to be drawn upwardly through the screen 16 and then blown forwardly and upwardly through the spaces between the baffle plates 13. Upon entering the spray chamber 14 the air will merge with the vapor of the spray and the saturated lair will be forced through the spaces between the sets of baiie plates 38, 39 and 40. As this saturated air passes between these plates, it will be deflected from one to another of said plates and the impurities that are entrained therein will be arrested and will eventually Idrop to the bottom .of the spray chamber commingled With-portions of the moisture which Imay condense and also be arrested. The commingled water and impurities which collect upon the bottom member l2 will be discharged through the drain pipe 43. After the saturated air leaves the bafhe member 37 it will pass through the screen 17 and be still further purified before it leaves the apparatus through the open top 11.

It is evident that the temperature of the water from which the spray is created may be varied by varying the amount of ice which is maintained within the receptacle 23, or by regulating the refrigerating units which may be placed in this receptacle in lieu of the ice, and it is evident that the temperature of the room in which the apparatus is in operation may be varied considerably by regulating the temperature of the water.

When the apparatus is in operation the air within the room will circulate throughthe apparatus and have moisture added thereto, the air being purified during its passage through the apparatus. By varying the ternperature of the water provided for the spray, the degree of humidifcation may be varied and the device changed from a humidifying device during the winter season when the lheating system of the house is in operation,

to a dehumidifying device in the summer season when there is a large amount of moisture in the air.

When the humidistat 28 functions to break the circuit to the valve 27 and motor 19, the supply of water to the spray nozzle 32 will automatically be shut olf and the fan will cease to operate.

Drinking water may be obtained at all times by manipulating the faucet 46 in a well-known manner.

I claim:

1. An air conditioning apparatus having, in combination, a casing embodying therein 60 my hand.

a humidifying compartment, a blower adapted to create a current of air to be purified through said compartment, means to create a spray in the liumidifying compartment, 5 means to temper said spray, a plurality of baffle plates interposed between the blower and spray adapted to diuse air passing therebetween, a plurality of other baille plates adapted to intercept the saturated air and arrest the impurities entrained therein,

and means to automatically control the supply of cooling fluid and the actuation of the blower.

2. An air conditioning apparatus having, in combination, a casing embodying therein a humidifying compartment, a blower adapted to create a current of air to be purified through said compartment, a spray nozzle, a coil of pipe adapted to conduct a fluid to said nozzle, means totemper said coil, a plurality of baille plates interposed between the blower and nozzle adapted to diffuse air passing therebetween, a plurality of other baille plates adapted to intercept the saturated air and arrest the impurities entrained therein, and means to automatically control the actuation of the spray nozzle and blower.

3. Anair conditioning apparatus having, in combination, a casing embodying therein a humidifying compartment, a blower adapted to create a current of air to be purified through said compartment, a spray nozzle l in the humidifying compartment, a coil of pipe adapted to conduct a fluid to said nozzle, a Valve for said pipe, a plurality of baie plates interposed between the blower and spray nozzle adapted to diffuse air passing therebetween, a plurality of other balile plates adapted to intercept thesaturated air and arrest the impurities entrained therein, and means to simultaneously energize said blower and actuate said valve.

4. An air conditioning apparatus having, in combination, a casing embodying therein a humidifying compartment, a blower adapted tocreate a current of air to be purified through said compartment, a spray nozzle in the humidifying compartment, means to conduct water to said s ray nozzle, means to temper said water, ba e plates interposed between the blower and spray nozzle adapted to deflect air projected thereagainst, other bafile plates adapted to intercept the saturated air. and arrest and deflect impurities entrained therein, and means to automatically control the actuation of the spray nozzle and the blower.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set PEI-IR W. STROMBERG. 

